Container



G. o. coNNER CONTAINER June 28, 193s;

3 Sheets-Shet 1 original Filedl oct. 16, 1934 INVENTQR J'un 28, 1938. G. o. CONNER CONTAINER Original Filed Oct. 16, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 mfg@ IVENTOR 'Y Patentec'lk June 28,1938

UNIT-ED STATES CONTAINER v Guy 0. Conner, lWheeling, W. Va.,.assignor to Wheeling-Steel Corporation, 'Wheeling, W. Va., a corporation of Delaware Original application October 16,1934, Serial No.

748,469. Divided and this application April 3, v

1935, Serial N0. 14,463

10 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to containers and the manufacture thereof. It relates more particularly to the manufacture of drawnA sheet metal containers,- and especially containers of. the type adapted for the storage and transportation and dispensing of fluids, such, for example, as. y disclosed in my copending application Serial No.

748,469, filed October 16, 1934, ofwhich application this application is a division, and which on April 12, 1938-issued as Patent No. 2,114,137. Certain ofthe subject-matter disclosed but not claimed herein is disclosed and claimed in my copending` application Serial No. 111,897, filed November 20, 1936, whichis a vdivision of this application.

The invention still further' relates to certain detailed features of construction of containersof the type referred to whereby distinct advantages and increased' utility are obtained, and it is the purpose of. this divisional application to cover certain of said features. A novel spout and closure arrangement isprovided, there being means 'for protecting the spout against damage and keeping it clean when not in use; and means are also provided for assisting in handling the container with great ease and reducing to a minimum the danger that the container rwill slip when being handled or when its contents areV being poured.

No attempt is here made to explain all of the details, objects and advantages of the invention. Other details, objects -and advantages will become apparent as the following description of a present preferred embodiment of the invention proceeds. f

, In the accompanying drawings I have shown a present preferred embodiment of the invention, in which Y Figure l is a perspective View of. acontainer;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the container with a portion cut away and with the spout cover and closure cap removed;

Figure 3 isa fragmentary bottom plan view showing a portion of the bottom ofthe container;V

Figure 4 is a central verticalv cross-sectional view taken on the line IV-IKV of Figure 2; n y

lFigure 5is a top plan view ofthe closure cap;

Figure 6 is an elevational 'view of the closure cap;

Figure 7 is a top plan and Figure 8 is view through the spout cover.v y v 3 Referring. now more particularly to the drawview of the spout cover;

a central.v vertical cross-sectional ings, the invention will be described as embodied in a sheet metal container of small or medium size, such, for example, as a live-gallon can.l The can is clearly shown in perspective-in Figure 1, and inasmuch as the body portion thereof and the method of making the body portion do not asa whole if desired. The top closure is preferably drawn into generally dome shape with rounded corners as shown so as to fit and cooperate with the drawn body blank. The top closure has apouring opening i9 surroundedby a rim 20, being letl into the top below the upper surface thereof, as shown in Figures 1 and 4. Within the pouring opening I9 is a sunken sealing portion 2|, and extending inwardly toward the axis ofthe pouring opening from opposite sidesthereof at or just below the level of the l' rim 2011s a pair of projections 22 for a purpose to be presently described. A spout 23 is drawn into the top` as shown in Figures 2 and 4 and forms la smooth continuation of the rim 20. Such rim has an embossed portion 24 adapted' to be punctured to provide a vent to assist in pouring out the contents of the container. The spout structure, although preferably forming an integral drawn vpart of the top closure, may be otherwise connected with such closure, as, for example, byv seaming or Welding.

'The to'p surface vof the container is indicated at 25 and there is provided' therein Aa downwardly'drawn depression 26 within which is crimped at 21 a trunnion member 28 having trunnions 29 formed therein. A handle 30 is pivoted to the trunnions 29 as shown and is adapted to be lifted up to enable thefmgers of the hand to be passed therethrough to enable the container' to be carried. When in its lower or inoperative position the handle lies substantially entirely within the confines of the depression 26. The axis of the trunnions 29 `may be substantially along the transverse diagonal of the top so Athat the handle extends substantially at right angles to the diagonal through the spout, thus enabling the container to be held in a natural position when pouring out its contents through the spout. A drawn connecting portion 3| connects the depression 26 with the depression in which the pouring opening and spout are situated, this preventing the accumulation of liquid in `the depression 26 and consequent submerging of. the handle.

The corners of the top are rounded both horiof another similar container stacked on top .of'

the container. As the handle k353 is let down within the connes of the top and the top of the cap for closing the pouring opening does not extend Y substantially above the surface 25, the Ycontainer Y is ideally suited for stacking, as will presently be described. 1

'Ihe spout 23 extends outwardly over the corner of the container so as to provide for pouring out the contents of the container therethrough, as shown in Figures 2 and 4. A spout cover 35 (Figures 7 and 8) is provided for covering the spout 23 when not in use and keeping it clean. The spout cover 35 comprises a flat annular portion 36 adapted to lie on the rim 20 and a forwardly and downwardly extendingcurved portion 3T to cover and protect the lip of the spout. The portion 3T terminates rearwardly on each side in V-a shoulder 38, these shoulders assisting in positioning .the spout cover in place. Connected lwith the under side of the portion 36 of the spout cover is a gasket 39 adapted to lie on and seal the vent 24 after such vent has been opened andthe container has later been closed. When the spout cover is in place it Alies with the portion 36 on top of the rim 23 and with the portion 3l covering and closing the lip of the spout, the shoulders 38 Ylying outside the spout and assisting in positioning and maintaining the spout cover in place, as shown in Figure 1.

There is provided a closure cap 4U v(Figures 5 and 6) which comprises a flat annular flange Madapted to overlie the portion 36 of the spout cover, which, in turn, overlies the rim 2|] of the top of the container. Projecting downwardly centrally of the closure cap is a hub portion 42 to the bottom of which is connected a gasket 43. The gasket is adapted to' seat on and cooperate with the sealing portion 2| so as to close and seal the pouring opening. At the outer surface of the hub 42 is a pair of oppositely disposed circumferentially extending cam lugs 44 adapted when the closure cap is set in place with respect tothe pouring opening and rotated in the clockwise direction when viewed from above to pass beneath the projections 22 to press and maintain the closure cap tightly in place 'to eiect a tight permanent seal between the gasket 43 and the sealing portion 2|. The cam lugs 44 are forwardly "tapered, 'as shown at 45, so `that as the cap is turned a wedging Vengagement will be eifected Vbetween the projections 22 and the lugs 44, thus insuring a tight seal. The cap has an upwardly extending hub 46 `shaped to receive a wrench to turn the cap. A

The closure cap 40 not only effects a tight seal at the pouring opening, but also maintains tightly 'in place the spout cover so as to protect the spout and keep'itV clean. The cap also presses the portion 36 of the spout cover against the rim 23 and particularly presses the gasket 39 down over the vent 24 to seal the vent as well as the pouring opening. A pair of oppositely disposed holes 41 is provided in the flange 4| of the cap 4U and a hole 48 is provided in the spout cover and a recess 49 is.- provided in the side of the exterior of the spout, as shown in Figure 2. When the spout cover is in place and the closure cap is applied and turned down to seal the pouring zontally and vertically as shown at 32, the ma-fopening one of the holes 41 in the flange 4| of the closure cap is in alignment with the hole 48 in the spout cover, which, in turn, is in alignment with Vthe recess '49 so that a sealing wire 56 may be `passed through the holes 4'| and 48 and Within the recess 49 to hold the cap against turning movement relative to the spout cover. As the Yspout cover is vprevented from turning by engagement of the shoulders 38 with the exterior of the spout, this prevents removal of the cap and maintains the container sealed until the sealing wire is broken and removed. Two holes .41 areA provided at diametrically opposed porbody blank the body blank may* be provided i with a suitable rim, as, for example, the usual wire b'ead,and a gasketmay be provided adapted to be ,interposed between the wire bead and the sealing portion of theY top closure, any suitable means ofwell known construction being provided for detachably connecting the top closure to the body blank.

There is provided a bottom closure member 5| having a horizontally extending main portion 52 and which is seamed to the body blank at 54. The bottom closure member is provided with drawn upward depressions 55, one at each corner, as shown in Figure 2, to assist in handling the container. In anyevent, it is preferable to have at least one of the depressions 55 at the bottom corner ofthe container opposite the'corner at which the spout is situated to assist in holding the container in a natural position for pouring. One hand may gripl the handle 33 and the lingers of the Aother hand may be inserted within the depression 55 at the corner opposite the spout, this providing a very natural and easy means for handling the container and pouring-out its contents. The projections 55 also very materially strengthen the bottom and add rigidity to it.

The horizontal dimensions of the body blank at the portion |'|f(see Figure 1) are greater than at the portion |6. The reason for this is explained at VlengthY in the parent application, Ybut asthis feature does-not per se form any part of the invention herein claimed it will notbeldescribed in detail. However, it fmay be pointed out that this enables stacking of the-containers one upon another'as the bottom `seam 54 lits down over the top of a similar container and snugly embraces the rolls 34 at the top of such similar container so `that the containers are positively maintained in proper stacked relationship.

The completed container `may be subjected to any suitable after-operations, such as painting, after which it is ready tobe `shipped out for use.

While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment ofthe invention, it is to Vbe distinctly understood `that the Vinvention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously opening communicating therewith, a cover forfis embodied Within the scope of the following claims.

I claim: l. A container having a spout and a pouring the spout and a separate closure for the pouring opening holding the spout cover in place.

2. A container having a spout and a pouring opening communicating therewith, a spout cover having a portion substantially coaxial with the pouring opening and a separate closure for the pouring opening cooperating 4with said portion'of the spout cover to hold the spout cover in place.

3. A container having a spout and a pouring opening communicating therewith, a cover for the spout adapted to be tted thereover to cover and protect the spout when not in use and havingl an annular portion generally in line with the pouring opening, and a closure for the Apouring opening having a portion extending within the annular portion of the yspout cover and maintaining the same in place. f

4. A container having a pouring opening, a v jsunken sealing portion Within said pouring opening, and a closure for said pouring opening having a flange for closing the same exteriorly and a plug portion extending Within said pouring opening into cooperative relationship with `said fao separate from the pouring opening,

6. A container having a spout and a pouringl opening communicating therewith, a non-rotat-V able cover for the spout and a rotatable closure for the pouring opening adapted to maintain the spout cover in place. f

7. A container having a spout and a pouring opening communicating therewith, a non-'rotatable cover for'the spout,.a rotatable closure for the pouring opening adapted to maintain the spout cover in place, and means preventing rotation of the closure.

8. A container having a spout and a pouring opening communicating therewith, a non-rotatable cover for the spout, a rotatable closure for the pouring opening adapted to maintain the spout cover in place, and means passing through openings in the spout cover and closure for preventing rotation of the latter.

9. A container having an outlet opening and pouring means communicating with the outlet opening and comprising a spout projecting generally laterallyeccentrioally with respect to the outlet opening and having a lip extending peripherally throughout a distance corresponding to a fraction only of the periphery of. the outlet gardless of the position of the container.

10...A container having infits top a pouring opening and having in a generally horizontally disposedportion adjacent the pouring opening aik vent opening, and a closure member having a por# tion for sealing the pouring opening and a generopening,- a cover having a portion conforming to Y saidA lip and means positively maintaining the cover in operative position to close the spout re- 

